RFU statement: Premiership relegation confirmed for Worcester
The RFU has explained it will wait a few days before making a definitive decision on whether Worcester will remain suspended for the remainder of the 2022/23 season or can resume playing. However, as it stands, they will be relegated to the Championship for the 2023/24 season due to insolvency - unless convinced otherwise by the administrators.
The statement from the governing body of English rugby follows the decision on Wednesday at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing to make an order winding up WRFC Players Ltd, the company that held player and some staff contracts at the club. Because they had not been paid for September, all players were able to leave on October 14 but this midweek liquidation has now brought their departure forward by nine days.
An RFU statement read: “The court has confirmed that WRFC Players Limited is now placed in compulsory liquidation. Therefore the contracts of players and a large number of staff who were employed by WRFC Players Limited are terminated and they are able to join other clubs.
“In relation to the men’s team playing in the Premiership this season, while the RFU continues to work with the administrators and potential buyers, due to the complexity of the situation, this currently appears unlikely. We expect to be able to make a definitive statement on this in the coming days and will work with Premier Rugby Limited to reshape the fixtures for the Gallagher Premiership if necessary.
“In the event a buyer can be secured for the club as a whole, because of the insolvency event suffered by the club, the men’s team suffer automatic relegation into the Championship. The administrators, on behalf of the club, have applied to have this relegation disapplied and this will be determined in due course.”
Worcester managed to play three matches, losing to London Irish and Exeter and then defeating Newcastle before their RFU suspension resulted in the cancellation of their games against Gloucester and Harlequins. They are next scheduled to play at Bristol on October 22.
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: “This is a very sad day for rugby in England. Our thoughts are with all of the Worcester Warriors players, staff and supporters. The RFU will continue to speak to the administrators and potential buyers during the course of the next 24 hours to understand the possibility of a buyer taking over the club in time for the men’s team to participate in the Gallagher Premiership during season 2022/23.
“We are also liaising with the administrators in relation to discussions with potential funders, which may enable the University of Worcester Warriors women’s team to continue in the Allianz Premier 15s even if the men’s team cannot continue to participate this season.
“The RFU will continue to support community rugby in Worcester and is fully committed to ensuring local academy opportunities are provided for pathway players.”
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I thought you meant in europe. Because all of the reasons theyre different I wouldn't correlate that to mean for europe, as in french broadcasters pay two or three times as much as the UK or SA broadcasters do, like they do for their league.
With France, it's not just about viewers, they are also paying much more. So no doubt there will be a hit (to the amount the French teams receive for only playing a fraction of it) but they may not care too much as long as the big clubs, the top 8 for example, enter the meaty end, and it wouldn't have the same value to them as the top14 contract/compensation does. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the 3 separate networks broadcast deals only went to the clubs in their regions as well (that's how SR ended up (unbalanced) I believe).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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